Not only can girls go the same schools and play the same sports as boys, but after decades of gender equality advancement young women are drinking as much as their male counterparts.

Rates of binge drinking — consuming more than five drinks on one occasion — for females aged 12 to 20 has increased from 60 percent in 1991 to more than 80 percent in 2005 — making the latest figure comparable to the rate for males, according to a study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University.

Women may be drinking more now in an attempt to break their historical stereotypical role in society, said Boston University Student Health Services Director David McBride in an email.

“Perhaps historically, women were more restrained because of a greater fear of appearing improper,” he said. “Women today seem to be less concerned about that than in past generations.”

CAMY reported the number of reported alcohol-related sexual assaults or date rapes that occur each year to college students – more than 70,000 – is related to an increase in binge drinking. Increased teen exposure to alcohol advertising is a major cause of the developing female drinking trend, the study states.

Ninety percent of all young people aged 12 to 20 saw an average of 306 television alcohol advertisements in 2004, 32 percent more television advertisements than in 2001, the study states.

Some BU female students admit they drink as much as their male friends in social situations.

College of Arts and Sciences freshman Christina Rodriguez said she drinks between five and seven drinks when she parties, an amount comparable to what her male friends consume.

“I don’t need to drink to have fun, but when I do go out I could drink as much as a lot of guys,” she said. “I drink to be social . . . I want to go out, have some fun and make some memories with some friends.”